The authors examined autopsy samples from birds dying during disease outbreaks and cloacal swabs from apparently normal free-ranging birds in areas adjoining to the disease outbreaks. Attempts were made to isolate Newcastle disease virus by inoculation of embryonated chicken eggs. Isolates were pathotyped by establishing mean death time, intracerebral pathogenicity index and intravenous pathogenicity index. Newcastle disease virus was isolated from 9 of 31 chickens and from a single guinea fowl at autopsy. Positive cloacal swabs were recorded from 1 of 8 chickens, 2 of 21 ducks, 1 of 9 pigeons and of 3 turkeys. All 14 isolates were judged to be velogenic.